Short Summary

The Malaysian Government is building up its security forces and mounting a propaganda campaign against what it sees as a new threat by Communist guerrillas to the country.

Description

The Malaysian Government is building up its security forces and mounting a propaganda campaign against what it sees as a new threat by Communist guerrillas to the country.

The threat is reviving memories of the Emergency between 1948 and 1960, when security forces hunted down ten thousand guerrillas and crushed the Communists.

This film shows a security forces parade at Ipoh, 50 miles south of the Thai border, and also the activities of the Government disseminating anti-Communist propaganda in this prosperous tin-mining and rubber-producing area, where the Communists are reported to be increasing their influence.

SYNOPSIS: Malaysian security forces are being strengthened to meet what the Government sees as a renewed threat to the state by Communist guerrillas--reviving memories of the emergency between 1948 and 1960, when security forces hunts down ten thousand guerrillas.

Near the tin-mining town of Ipoh 50 miles south of the border, 22 armoured Ferret cars lined up to be blessed by the Inspector-General of police before being commission for service. Most of their work will be patrolling round the Thai border where guerrillas have been most active.

There is evidence that the guerrillas are moving south to places like Ipoh. Last month a Communist camp was found only a miles from the town. Workers at the tin mines and rubber plantations here--as elsewhere in Malaysia--are the focus of an intensive propaganda campaign by the clandestine Malaysian Communist Party. Radio broadcast from Hunan in the People's Republic of China warn non-Malaysian workers they will lose their job and even be deported. A better securer future is promised if they support the Communist Party.

Now the Malaysian Government is sending out psychological warfare teams with a counter propaganda campaign. Officials go into village with leaflets and magazines explaining how the Government plan to help them, and urging them not to listen to the Communists. Malaysian intelligence estimates put guerrilla strength at just one thousand, mostly Chinese--including, according to the Government, known criminals and secret society thugs.

Although known incidents are relatively isolated, the Government says the situation is getting serious. Accordingly training for security forces, including police reservists, is being intensified, and the Government is pinning all its hopes on its own campaign of warfare--both military and psychological--to neutralise the Communist drive to win the hearts and minds of Malaysians.